What does Justice look like? Part IV - “Gambatte Be Strong”

Agnes Flanagan Chapel

The immigrant journey of the Japanese in Oregon is paved with stories of perseverance and courage. Gambatte Be Strong is the rallying cry for an original reading of the little known stories of the return of Japanese Americans to Oregon after their incarceration during WW II.
Seventy-five years ago, the signing of Executive Order 9066 led to incarceration of 120,000
people of Japanese ancestry, the majority of whom were American citizens. Looking like the “enemy” led to denial of their human rights and violation of their civil rights by their own country.
These hard-working community people were suddenly forcibly removed from their homes and livelihoods. First, they were taken to assembly centers in Portland, an area known as the Livestock Pavilion,that became their home for three to five months, then moved secretly to government prison camps in remote desert areas of America. Following the war, with no homes and their Nihonmachi (Japantown) community destroyed, many either left Oregon or relocated to Vanport. In 1947, the Vanport Flood brought death and destruction to its residents. Once again, the Issei of Portland and their American-born children found themselves displaced, living in designated “race” areas of the city but continuing to pursue The American Dream.